Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds

Looking for an easy lunch or dinner? Fresh grapes and crunchy toasted almonds make this and store-bought rotisserie chicken downright special!

Why make this recipe?

I'll get right to the point. We're all so busy, and we want to make an easy recipe with familiar, classic flavors and simple ingredients and not much fuss, right? This is an easy rotisserie chicken salad, and the combination of ingredients is amazingly delicious.

This is one of my favorite salad recipes, and I've been making it for years. More great news- the best part is we're using a store-bought rotisserie chicken as an added shortcut for busy days. (You can totally use any leftover chicken too if you'd like.)

Here's a few good reasons to make it:

• This delicious chicken salad with red seedless grapes and almonds is a popular recipe here, and is pretty traditional with a few special ingredients.

• You can make this chicken salad recipe ahead of time, it makes enough for delicious meals for lunch or a light dinner.

• If you have leftover rotisserie chicken in the fridge, this is a perfect way to use it!

• Buy a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, then shred it or cut into big chunks that are tender and absolutely delicious.

For a full list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card.

• Whole Rotisserie Chicken: Sure, you could bake and some chicken breasts for this recipe, but why if you don't have to?

• Mayo/Mustard: To hold things together and add some creaminess and amazing flavor.

• Celery: Thin sliced, always...great for a crunchy little bite in this chicken salad.

• Red Grapes: Sliced in half, these give you a burst of sweet that really makes this chicken salad special.

• Slivered Almonds: Amazingly crunchy and delicious.

• Thyme and Parsley: Fresh, please. Makes a big, big difference.

• Lemon: Just a little to make the whole thing pop with flavor.

• Seasonings: This recipe calls for Kosher salt and lemon or black pepper.

Instructions (and please see the full recipe at the bottom)

This step is easy, but take my word for it, don't walk away from this once you start!

1. Place the raw slivered almonds in a non-stick skillet on medium high heat.

2. Move the almonds around every few seconds with a wooden spoon. Nuts burn easily, so keep them gently moving around the pan.

3. Once they start to take on a little color, it goes very quickly, just keep gently stirring.

4. When you see some brown color happening and can smell the toasty fragrance, turn the heat off and continue to move the nuts around in the pan. The residual heat in the pan will continue to cook the nuts.

5. Spoon them into a small bowl and allow them to cool a bit before using.

Combine the Ingredients

With this (very) Best (favorite) Rotisserie Chicken Salad, go gentle with the tossing. Nothing too aggressive, just enough elbow power to combine the ingredients. Then you're good to go!

TIPS:

• When taking the meat off the chicken, remove and discard the skin first. This makes it easier to see what you are working with.

• Use your clean hands to pull all the meat off the chicken, and keep a bowl handy keep it in one spot. After that's done, chop the bigger pieces into bite-size chunks using a knife and cutting board.

• Use dried cranberries instead of grapes if you'd like, totally delicious. Start with a quarter cup and add as much as you'd like.

• Use a thin sliced red onion instead of green onion, both are excellent!

This Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds is so good for a light lunch on butter lettuce! Love it, and so does everyone else.

That said, make a chicken salad sandwich with buttered and toasted bread with the crusts removed. Nostalgic and really, really good.

I love to take this in a picnic basket and have lunch outside. All you need are some cold drinks, good potato chips, and cookies for dessert.

FAQ’s

Can I make this chicken Salad recipe in advance?

Yes! If you need to make it in advance, just leave the slivered almonds to add right before serving. Otherwise, you risk them getting soggy.

Can I leave out the fresh grapes in this recipe?

Yes! Feel free to substitute dried fruit like cranberries or even dried apricots. Also, fresh or canned pineapple chunks are amazing! Start with 1/3 cup drained and add more to taste.

Can I use something besides mayo?

You can certainly use plain Greek Yogurt instead of mayo. I'd recommend regular style for its creaminess.

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds

This is my Favorite Chicken Salad recipe, with fresh red grapes and toasted almonds for crunch and flavor. So delicious!

Course: Salad

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Rotisserie Chicken, meat removed

• ▢ 1/4 cup Almonds, slivered, toasted

• ▢ 1/3 cup Red Grapes, cut in half

• ▢ 1/3 cup Celery, sliced very thin

• ▢ 2 Green Onions, sliced thin

• ▢ 1/3 cup Light Mayonnaise use regular if you'd like

• ▢ 1 tsp Dijon Mustard

• ▢ 1/4 tsp Lemon Pepper

• ▢ 1/4 tsp Salt

• ▢ 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder

• ▢ 1 tsp. Lemon Juice, fresh squeezed

• ▢ 1 tsp. Thyme, fresh

• ▢ 1 tablespoon Italian Parsley, chopped

Instructions

• PREP THE CHICKEN

  Remove the meat off the chicken, discard the carcass or use for another purpose like chicken stock.

• To toast the almonds, place in a medium sized non-stick pan on medium heat, stirring regularly for 2-5 minutes with a wooden spoon.

  Continue stirring and as soon as the almonds start to turn brown, remove from heat. They will continue to cook at little after removing from heat.

• MAKE THE DRESSING

• Combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, fresh lemon juice and fresh thyme in a small bowl and combine.

  Add more fresh lemon juice if needed to thin out the dressing.

• TOSS THE SALAD

• In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken, almonds (reserve a little to garnish the top) grapes, celery, green onion, dressing (mayo) mixture and fresh thyme.

  Add more toasted almonds on top and the chopped Italian Parsley.

  Serve on butter lettuce leaves or toasted bread.

Notes

• When taking the meat off the chicken, remove and discard the skin first. This makes it easier to see what you are working with.

• Use your clean hands to pull all the meat off the chicken, and keep a bowl handy keep it in one spot. After that’s done, chop the bigger pieces into bite-size chunks using a knife and cutting board.

• Use dried cranberries instead of grapes if you’d like, totally delicious. Start with a quarter cup and add as much as you’d like.

• Use a thin sliced